Bioterrorism, Pregnancy, and Old White Men

Abstract

By the title you might think this chapter is a departure from the general theme of this book. I beg your indulgence as I plead my case, because pregnant women as a cohort have been tragically forgotten in the hazards and disaster literature. Although mapping of vulnerable populations is a recognized approach, I argue (and frequently have) that we need to reconsider our disaster mitigation, response, and recovery plans, directing attention toward neighborhoods with high proportions of high-risk pregnant mothers. I will argue my case over the course of this chapter and at the same time suggest a potential funding strategy that can tap into Homeland Security funding. This chapter will focus on one particular disaster, a bioterrorist (BT) attack, and suggest how community health units could leverage funding to start their own GIS in the form of a syndromic surveillance system.